Car Accident Lawyer Ozark, MO. After you have been hurt in a car or truck accident, having concerns about your job or your family should be the last thing on your mind. Between car repairs, medical treatment, and mental trauma or anguish, the impact of an car accident in Ozark, MO can easily take over anyone’s life, doubly so when insurance companies refuse to deal with you or you do not receive the compensation you deserve.
Contact Our Ozark, MO Car Accident Lawyers Here
Combs Waterkotte is here to help Ozark, MO residents who have been in car accidents and do not know about how to proceed. Our Ozark car accident lawyer finds evidence, deals with insurance and financial agents, and compiles accident reports for their clients. We fight fiercely for all our Ozark, MO auto accident clients to win them not only appropriate compensation, but also a measure of justice after going through a very troubling experience.
After you’ve been in a Ozark, MO auto accident, do not delay in contacting Combs Waterkotte, either online or by calling (314) 900-HELP, and put a veteran Ozark, MO auto accident attorney to work for you. Our firm offers no-obligation initial consultations, and vows that you do not win or get a settlement in your Ozark auto accident lawsuit, you owe us nothing.
Giving You One Less Thing To Worry About
A Full-Service Ozark, MO Car Accident Lawyer
Thousands of cars and trucks take to the road every day in and around Ozark in order to go to work, deliver goods, run errands, or just to enjoy the open road. Sadly, though, car accidents regularly occur, caused by poorly maintained roads, the negligence of other motorists, or adverse weather conditions. Injuries and property damage can range from bumps and bruises and small scratches and dings, to life-changing injuries and vehicles better suited as scrap metal.
As experienced Ozark, MO car accident lawyers, Combs Waterkotte has handled car accident claims of all types and seen first-hand how the effects of a car accident in Ozark can alter someone’s life, forever in some situations. Our firm has years of experience handling car accident cases, and knows the tactics insurance companies use to avoid paying proper restitution to Ozark accident victims. We provide unique legal strategies that are designed to meet your unique needs and get clients both justice in addition to a just reward for their injuries and losses.
What To Do After A Car Accident In Ozark, MO
Following a car accident, it is likely that people will be in a state of shock and uncertain how to proceed. However, having dealt with many car accident clients across Ozark, MO, the staff at Combs Waterkotte suggests that all our clients take these steps after their car accident:
- Make sure you are safe. Pull over to somewhere where you will not obstruct traffic, if you are able to, and check to see if you have suffered any injuries.
- Call 911. Not only will you need to talk with police and get a full report of your car accident, but if you or a passenger is severely injured you may need to have an ambulance dispatched. When the police arrive, be honest about the accident but avoid saying anything unnecessary: statements that imply guilt can and will be used against you by insurance providers when finding fault.
- Collect all relevant information. Exchange not only your license, registration, and insurance details, which you are legally required to do, but also phone numbers and other contact details.
- Take photos. Everyone now having a camera on their phone means that it is very easy to document your Ozark, MO accident and compile evidence. Get shots of the site of your accident, skid marks, and the full extent of your damage. If nearby pedestrians saw your accident, it is smart to record what they saw, as it can help your case immensely.
- Get medical care. If you were hurt as a result of your Ozark car accident, immediately seek out emergency medical care. For smaller injuries, a local urgent care center is a more affordable and convenient option than an ER visit. However, larger and more serious injuries will likely necessitate a trip to the hospital, or potentially a visit to your personal doctor.
- Contact a car accident lawyer. The quicker you talk to a trustworthy and understanding Ozark, MO car accident lawyer, the quicker they can start working on your case and allow you to focus on recovering after an accident.
In addition to these steps, our firm recommends that all our clients keep the following paperwork. They can help immensely when negotiating a settlement, or to fully illustrate the effect a car accident in Ozark, MO had on your life.
- Medical documentation
- Pictures of the accident scene
- The full police report of the accident
- Witness statements
- All medical-related bills (ambulance fees, physical therapy costs, medications, etc.)
- Doctor’s reports and observations
- Repair records
- Incidental bills including rental car receipts
- Lost earning opportunities
- Records of pain and suffering directly caused by your accident
What Damages Can I Recover After A Car Accident?
In general, there are five types of damages someone can claim after a car accident in Ozark, MO. These are:
- Medical damages: these are not strictly restricted to hospital bills or doctor’s visits, either. An auto accident victim can claim costs for prescriptions, visits to mental health professionals, rehab or physical therapy to fully recover from accident injuries, and required medical equipment such as a wheelchair, as well.
- Lost wages/earning potential: for the most part this is determined by what you were earning prior to the accident, how much the accident impacted your ability to adequately perform work, and how the lasting effects of your accident/injuries may keep you from working to your full potential in the future.
- Property damage: this includes fixing or replacing your car in addition to any/all additional items that were damaged as a result of your Ozark auto accident.
- Pain and suffering: these damages can be hard to put into words, since by and large the amount of discomfort one goes through after an accident differs from person to person. In general, though, recording changes in attitude, mental health and need for therapy, and longer-lasting after-effects of your accident is a good rule of thumb.
- Disability or disfigurement: in more severe cases, a Ozark, MO car accident may result in a victim suffering life-changing injuries. While in a substantial number of cases those injuries are permanent and a settlement cannot remedy the unmeasurable pain and difficulty these injuries cause, it can help provide an accident victim more opportunity to adapt to their new normal.
It is also key to note that Missouri is a comparative fault state, which means that the amount of damages one or more parties are entitled to is adjusted based on how much at fault they were for causing a car accident. Missouri is a pure comparative fault state, which allows for even someone who was determined to be 99% responsible for an accident to collect a proportional amount of damages.
Contact A Ozark, MO Car Accident Lawyer Who Cares
At Combs Waterkotte, we provide the aggression and legal knowledge of a top Ozark, MO car accident law firm as well as the personal attention of an individual practice. Our firm has worked with Ozark residents of all backgrounds to obtain the justice they merit following a car accident in Ozark, MO. We take all our cases on what is known as a contingency basis, which means that unless you get a positive result in your Ozark, MO car accident case, you will not need to owe us a penny.
If you have been injured in a car accident in Ozark, MO caused by another party’s reckless behavior, do not hesitate: contact a Ozark car accident lawyer at Combs Waterkotte today by calling (314) 900-HELP or online for a free, no-strings-attched case review.
